Every patient — from coping to hoping. Every donor or volunteer — from altruism to inspiration. These stories inspire our work and compel mission advocates to give financially, join the registry, volunteer or spread the word.
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A marrow transplant may be someone’s only hope for a cure. Learn how marrow donation works, the steps of a patient transplant, steps of donation, and factors that can impact the likelihood of finding a match.
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Be The Match® is a global leader in bone marrow transplantation. We conduct research to improve transplant outcomes provide support and resources for patients, and partner with a global network.
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Counseling Services

The Be The Match® Patient Support Center offers free counseling services. A licensed social worker can provide one-on-one counseling support to help patients, caregivers, family members, and survivors of transplant cope with the blood and marrow transplant (BMT) process.

What is counseling?

Individual counseling is an opportunity to get support during difficult times. It involves developing a two-way professional relationship between a licensed counselor and you. The counselor can help you to identify and resolve personal, social and emotional problems related to illness and BMT. The counselor can also help you improve your coping skills and quality of life.

What can I expect with individual counseling?

Although the process will be different for each person, counseling support may include talking about how to:

Adjust to the BMT process and survivorship

Develop coping strategies

Manage emotions, such as anxiety or sadness

Improve communication with the health care team and family members

Identify and cope with family role changes that have occurred due to transplant

The first 1-2 sessions will involve a complete psychosocial needs assessment. During this session, you will have an opportunity to talk about the personal goals you would like to achieve through counseling. The counselor will then offer their recommendations on how you can work together to reach your goals.

Each session will last up to 50 minutes, and will be held once a week for up to 8 weeks. The number of sessions may be more or less depending on your needs, and will be held at a time that works best for you and your counselor.

Meet the Counseling Services Staff

Katie Schoeppner, MSW, LICSW, Supervisor, Counseling Services

Katie received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. She has been a member of the Be The Match Patient Support Center since 2014. Before joining Be The Match, Katie was a clinical social worker at the University of Minnesota Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. She’s a member of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW).

Counseling is available over the telephone, no matter where you live in the U.S., or in person at our office in Minneapolis, MN.